Mariella laughed in familiar kinship with the woman, if only because they were both moms of males. She also sensed there was a deeper conflict between Sam and his mother, and suspected his gift would do little to relieve it. How many times had she thought that buying Josh just one more video game would erase the subtle tension between them?
“There are no castles in Bay Point, and while we do have some tacky tourist shops, I can assure you this is a lovely town.”
“I’m sure it is, but I’m not here for a visit. I’m the new boys’ head soccer coach at the high school. I’m taking over for Coach Lander.”
Mariella stopped, her hand poised over a plastic paperweight in the shape of a whale, and blinked in disbelief. News traveled fast in Bay Point and she was surprised she hadn’t heard of his arrival.
“I know Coach Lander had a heart attack just before school started in September. Lots of parents were wondering who was going to replace him, but as far as we knew, the administration was still looking.”
She handed the object to him, and his smile turned tentative. Somehow she knew it wasn’t the whale’s fault.
He shrugged and set it back on the display table. “I’m your man, but only until Coach Lander is ready to return full-time. The press release goes out tomorrow.”
Though she sensed Sam’s discomfort, she couldn’t deny her own excitement that he was going to be a temporary resident of Bay Point. Her fingers played with the ends of her hair, and when she caught him looking at her, she stopped.
“My son Josh will be thrilled. He’s a forward on the team. Our last name is Vency.”
Sam gave her a matter-of-fact nod. “Sounds familiar. Coach mentioned a few kids I should be aware of this season. Your son was on the list.”
“How kind.” Mariella’s heart burst with pride that in the next beat constricted into worry. “I should let you know that Josh did have a bicycle accident this summer, but he’s doing okay now.”
Sam frowned, and she wondered if she should have mentioned Josh’s injury at all. “Was he badly hurt?”
“Yes.” She swallowed hard, remembering the aftermath of his accident. “He was on his way home from visiting a friend, and a car sideswiped him. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet. Still, he landed on his knee.”
Sam’s eyes crinkled as if he’d just imagined the scene. “Ouch.”
Mariella nodded. “He’s healed up and his doctor cleared him to play sports, with the caveat that he goes to physical therapy for at least another month.”
Recovery over the summer was slow, but only because Josh refused to do his exercises on a consistent basis as instructed by his therapist. Hounding only annoyed him, and frustrated her.
“I’m glad. Coach told me Josh always does his best to put the ball into the net, and he’s the key to a winning season this year. He’s still going to try out for the team, right?”
Mariella tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure. It’s really up to him.”
His amiable smile chased her worry away, but then her fear of Josh playing soccer ratcheted up again, in spite of his handsome, courteous coach. Soccer was a grueling and intense sport, and even though he’d suffered only minor injuries over the past three seasons, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t get hurt worse.
Still, there was a chance he wouldn’t play at all. Ever since the accident, Josh had been sullen and withdrawn. Whenever she mentioned the tryouts or playing soccer again, he changed the subject, or didn’t answer her at all. Though he continued to watch soccer on television, she was concerned he’d lost his drive to participate on his former team.
She’d spoken to his doctor about her concerns, and he assured her that things would get better once he got back on the field. Maybe Sam would be able to reinvigorate his enthusiasm and help put her own fears to rest—for good.
“If he doesn’t show up, I just may have to recruit you,” Sam warned.
Though he probably wasn’t serious, the slow grin on his face scored major points with her heart.
“I can run, but I can’t kick a ball at all and my aim is terrible,” she protested, playing along.
“It’s easy. I’ll teach you someday.”
Whether he was serious or not, a smattering of tingles flirted through her body and caught her off guard. She tried to laugh them away.
“Thanks. But why don’t we find your mother a gift first?”
Mariella wanted to know more about Sam Kelly, but didn’t dare ask. He was here, but not to stay, and it was naive to think that what she felt for him now was anything but idle fascination. She wasn’t the type to get stars in her eyes, and vowed to keep her senses in check.
That lasted about thirty seconds, and she found herself appraising him again as they weaved their way through the display tables. His upper torso reminded her of a sculpture; the bold angles of his muscles were apparent despite the unfortunate presence of his shirt.
She stood as close as she dared, and the mild waft of musky cologne emanating from his skin drove her crazy. She wanted to snuggle against him and just inhale him first. Other things could come later, she thought wickedly.
Over the next twenty minutes she showed him various items, each of which he dismissed as tacky or cheap, and she silently agreed with his opinions. Despite Sam’s sports star status and gorgeous looks, she found herself growing more at ease in his presence. He seemed to be a genuinely nice person, and who wouldn’t like a guy who wanted to reassure his mom with the perfect gift?
After perusing every table and display, they ended up near the fake palm trees. She was about to give up when her eye caught sight of a large snow globe. It was perched on the lowest shelf on the wall, very close to where she’d been hiding.
Mariella reached past him, and her arm briefly rubbed against his side. She felt the hairs on her arms stand up as she stooped down to grab it.
She stood and held the snow globe in front of her to examine it more closely. The clear glass bloated the angles of Sam’s facial features outward, as if he was standing in front of a fun-house mirror, and she fought back a grin.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
Mariella smiled, surprised he’d noticed her reaction, and rapped on the globe lightly with her knuckles. “I can’t believe it’s not plastic, like nearly everything else in this store.”
He reached for it, but she held it away from him. It was about the size of a grapefruit, and when she flipped it around, the snow inside began to drift over the scene.
The effect was quite charming, and despite the air-conditioning blasting overhead, made her feel warm inside.
“The mountains and the little town below them remind me of Christmas.”
As she handed it to him, his fingers grazed hers, and she shivered involuntarily.
“Cold?” he asked, his gaze rimmed with concern.
Mariella shook her head, and rubbed her hands across her upper arms, wishing it were his touch instead. He watched her closely, and by the gleam in his eyes, there was no doubt in her mind he felt something, too.
He held the snow globe up. “I didn’t see any mountains on the drive from the airport, so I gather this is not Bay Point?”
“Lord, no. It never snows here,” she laughed. “Those are probably supposed to be the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which are north from here. Great skiing, if you’re into that sort of thing.”
Sam’s laughter filled the room, but there was a harsh edge to it, too. “I can injure myself just fine on the soccer field, thank you very much.”
“So what do you think?” she asked after he handed it back to her.
“The snow and the mountains will remind my mum of the French Alps. It’s perfect. I’ll take it.” He added a quick wink as if they were partners in crime. “Plus, she knows I hate skiing.”
When they got to the counter, Sam held up his phone. “Can
I pay with this?”
Mariella shook her head as she rang up his item on the old-fashioned cash register. “As you can see, Terrence isn’t that technically advanced.”
“You know how to work that thing?”
“A dying talent, I know.” She giggled. “When I first moved to Bay Point, I worked here for a few months until I found a full-time job.”
Sam slid a bill across the glass. “Okay, this should cover it.”
She stared, openmouthed, at it. “Um. We don’t take this currency, but we do take credit cards.”
Sam palmed his forehead. “I’m sorry. I do have American money.”
He thumbed through the cash in his wallet, and handed her a twenty-dollar US bill.
Mariella handed him the correct change, but when she tried to give him the fifty-pound note back, he nudged her hand away and winked.
“Keep it, so I don’t accidentally try to use it again and embarrass myself. I’m new in town and want to protect my reputation.”
Staring hard at the bill, she wondered if she should accept it and if she did, what it would mean. Possessing something of Sam’s made him all the more real in her heart, and that might not be a good thing. But when she looked into his eyes, she could tell right away he was being genuine.
“Thank you, Sam.”
She reached under the counter where her purse was stored and slipped the bill into her wallet, hoping she wasn’t making a royal mistake.
“Are you homesick?”
He paused before answering. “Not really. I’m used to traveling and being on the road. This is one of the rare times in my life where I’ll be staying put in one place. At least until the soccer season ends.”
Their eyes met and held, sending another ray of hope through her mind. It was hard to focus on him while the meaning of his words spun through her brain.
Sam wasn’t leaving tomorrow, or the next day, but someday he would leave. As far as romance, she had to discard any hint of possibility and keep her heart firmly rooted in reality.
“Shall I gift wrap this for you?”
“Yes, please.”
Mariella handed him a pen and a gift tag. While he was writing, she folded a small white cardboard box and gave the inside a generous padding of bubble wrap. After securing the snow globe in white tissue paper, she placed it in the box and taped it shut. Glossy silver wrapping paper and a red bow were the finishing touches.
“Beautifully done, thank you.” He slid the tag into an envelope, and she watched as he licked it. “But I’m afraid I’ve changed my mind.”
“What’s wrong?” She hitched in a breath and stared at the box, wondering what could have happened.
He placed the envelope on the counter. “I don’t think my mother will like this gift after all.”
Her eyes snapped to his face. “Why not?”
“I think you’ll appreciate it more.”
A smile started at the corners of her mouth, even though she was thoroughly confused. She tried to give him the box, but he lifted it away and set it back on the counter.
Her voice trembled. “I don’t understand.”
“I saw how your eyes lit up when you were looking at the snow globe.” He touched her hand and a hot blush slid over her face. “I want you to have it.”
He picked up the box and gave it to her, and even though she felt a bit silly, she took it.
“But what about your mom?”
“Is there an antiques store in town?”
She wedged the box under her arm. “Yes, just make a right at the corner and go down a couple blocks. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll find something there. Mum loves anything older than her. And since she’s perpetually thirty-five, that gives me a lot of leeway.”
Sam turned, but seemed reluctant to leave. “I’ll let you know what I find the next time I see you.”
She smiled, throwing reality aside to ride the seesaw of hope inside her. “Yes. At tryouts.”
He backpedaled down the store’s center aisle, keeping his eyes on hers the entire way.
“Is that a promise?”
Mariella didn’t dare speak, so she nodded, her head moving up and down, seemingly in slow motion. She was glad only the top half of her body was visible behind the counter, as Sam reached behind him to grasp the doorknob. Otherwise, he would have seen her knees almost knocking together as she stared at his muscular frame.
She gave him a little wave as he walked out the door. When he was gone, her gaze morphed back into focus even as her brain tried to capture the spellbound way he’d looked at her as if he was trying to remember something about her.
She opened the envelope and read the card aloud.
“Thank you for helping me to forget.”
The words, written in neat cursive, and signed with his first name only, intrigued and saddened her at the same time.
Forget about what, she wondered. And why?
Mariella set the box down below the counter, next to her purse. While stowing the card alongside the British pound in her wallet, she felt fortunate for their chance meeting and her heart began to beat more rapidly, as if affirming her feelings were true.
She realized she’d received a third gift from Sam Kelly, though he didn’t know he was the one responsible. Simply by being in his presence, the ice of loneliness encrusted around her heart had begun to thaw.
He’d made her forget, too.
* * *
Sam stepped outside, closed the door to the shop and squinted. The sun seemed to shine brighter here in California, like it had something to prove to the entire world. Or maybe it was because he’d just met a beautiful woman.
Right now he was glad to be standing on a street corner in Bay Point, rather than in his lonely flat in the south of London. Though a cold shower would be immensely helpful right about now. He’d been hard almost the entire time he was in the store.
He resisted the urge to turn back to look through the window to see if Mariella was watching him. Instead, Sam looked down and exhaled a sigh of relief.
His long soccer shirt and baggy shorts had done their job and hidden his physical reaction to Mariella. As soon as he’d laid his eyes on her, it had sprung to new life.
She wasn’t a classic beauty, but had high cheekbones and perfectly arched brows. Thankfully, she didn’t possess the haughty cater-to-me manner he’d experienced with many attractive women. Her nut-brown face was clear, smooth, appearing supple to the touch, if he had dared to reach out. Now he wished with every fiber of his being that he had.
Like most men, his lower half acted independently, giving uninvited props to his visual mind and vivid imagination. The sudden and achingly raw desire for her had surprised him.
After a deep, steadying breath, he started to walk in the direction of the antiques store. Out of Mariella’s realm, his body began to settle down. Later on, when he was alone, he knew he’d have to contend with images of making love to her.
Sam had broken two of his own unwritten rules for dealing with the opposite sex. First, not to get so enamored with a woman that he lost his senses. Second, never, ever give presents.
Both had happened today, but only one thing would keep him in check. Mariella was the mother of one of his team members, so dating her was out of the question. In fact, it was a stipulation of his contract. And right now he had no desire to travel thousands of miles home. He’d only arrived a few days ago.
His weather app displayed a temperature of sixty-five, yet the sun cresting overhead made it feel much warmer. The heat seemed to radiate from within his body outward, like the longing he’d had for Mariella whenever she got too close.
I wouldn’t have minded getting closer.
He sighed again, looked up and shaded his eyes.
Sam heard that it never rained in Southern Ca
lifornia, and he hoped the same was true here in the northern region of the state.
He’d come to Bay Point to escape the dreariness of London, and for a lot of other reasons, too, none of which included finding love. Opportunities for sex, on the other hand, seemed to find him, no matter where he was.
Not sure if that was because he was famous or just too damn lucky. He stopped walking, shrugged and kept going. Not really caring.
Except for one woman.
Mariella’s interest in him was cool at first. Her guarded actions made it easy to believe she didn’t know him. But even before he told her his name, he’d seen the spark in her eyes, when she peeked her head out from behind those ridiculous palm trees.
Their mutual attraction seemed to be as much of a surprise to her as it was to him. As the moments between them went on, it spiraled outward in intensity, like ripples on a pond. The fact that she didn’t throw herself at him like so many women did had turned him on even more, though he wished she had.
It became increasingly hard to think straight without seeing her, and wanting her, in his arms. And he knew he was sunk, a rock to her depths.
Every time Mariella moved, it took everything in his power to hold back his steps, to not go to her side right away, and see what she wanted to show him. If he appeared to be a snob, he certainly didn’t mean it, even though he did think the merchandise was disposable.
He chuckled to himself, knowing his mother would have called what he felt in his gut a stomachache. Mariella’s interest in him? Mere female curiosity.
His mother was very practical, and had neither patience, nor time, for romance. It was a badge of honor that she’d not seen one episode of Downton Abbey, although she did say once that she cried when Princess Diana and Prince Charles divorced.
He’d never thought he was the romantic type, either, and was still puzzled why he’d decided to give Mariella the snow globe. Maybe it was to stop the feelings he didn’t understand that made him rock-hard. Thoughts that could only get him into trouble.
At first he thought she’d be angry with him. She’d taken the trouble to wrap the gift so expertly. Would she have taken that much care if she knew it was for herself?
Winning Her Holiday Love Page 2